College Justice Falls Short For Rape Victim
NPR Broadcast Failed Justice Leaves Rape Victim Nowhere To Turn
Sexual Assault on Campus a Frustrating Search for Justice by Kristen Lombardi
Please read this superior piece of investigative journalism on Campus Sexual Assault by Kristen Lombardi
http://www.publicintegrity.org/investigations/campus_assault/
NPR Broadcast Campus Sexual Assault A Frustrating Search for Justice
Please listen to this Broadcast or read the transcript:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121057891#commentBlock
A superior piece of journalism by Kristen Lombardi of the Center for Public Integrity.
Bloomington, Indiana Prosecutor Chris Gaal working to make women safer both on campus and off
Sexual Assault Response Team Press Release
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PRESS RELEASE
August 27, 2009
For More Information, contact:
Chris Gaal, Office of the Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney, 349-2670
NEW COMMUNITY INITIATIVES FOCUS ON SEXUAL ASSAULT
Bloomington, IN – Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Gaal, along with representatives from Bloomington Hospital, Indiana University, law enforcement, and others, today announced the creation of a new Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) designed to improve the community’s response to sexual assault incidents. For the last two years, Gaal has spearheaded an effort to draft a written protocol to coordinate the community’s response to sexual assault incidents, and led fundraising efforts to assist in the creation of a new Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program at Bloomington Hospital. Both the SART Protocol and the SANE program are now ready to be implemented.
The new protocol describes the SART as a community-based effort to coordinate resources to respond effectively to sexual assault incidents and collect evidence with sensitivity for the victim. The protocol encourages sexual assault victims to obtain a forensic medical examination from a SANE nurse to document injuries and preserve evidence that can be later used to prosecute the perpetrator. Victims will have the right to choose whether or not to report the incident to law enforcement. In the event a victim chooses not to report, evidence from the forensic medical examination will be stored under a confidential number for one year.
“It is important that victims be empowered to decide whether or not they want to report,” Gaal said. “Often they need time to talk to friends, family and counselors in order to make that decision and come forward. In the meantime, we want to keep the door open by ensuring that the best available evidence is collected, documented, and preserved.”
The SART Protocol calls for an immediate response by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), a Victim Advocate, and a law enforcement officer.
The SANE is a nurse with special training to conduct a forensic medical examination to treat and document injuries, provide medical information to the victim, and properly collect evidence using the State Police “Rape Kit.” Grants from the Bloomington Hospital Foundation as well as County and City government were used to help create the SANE program at Bloomington Hospital.
“Several of our nurses have already completed the SANE training, and we are committed to additional training so that we can provide this important service to the community with 24/7 on call availability,” said Bloomington Hospital Vice President of Patient Care Services Ruth Ann Morris.
Victim advocates respond to victim questions, provide support and comfort, help explain the hospital exam process, and describe available legal options. On-site advocacy services are provided at both local hospitals by Middle Way House and at the I.U. Health Center by the Sexual Assault Crisis Service (SACS.) “We have been providing around the clock on-scene services for survivors of rape and sexual assault since 1992. We are keenly aware of the need for the protocol and the services of sexual assault nurse examiners, and are very pleased to be part of this community-wide effort,” said Middle Way Crisis Intervention Services Coordinator Leila Voyles.
In the event a victim chooses not to report the incident, law enforcement will store the “rape kit” under a confidential number for one year, giving the victim time to reconsider their decision. If a non-reporting victim chooses to report at a later time, law enforcement will then conduct a criminal investigation.
“There is a real benefit to having police sitting at the table with the hospital, Middle Way House, the university, and the prosecutor, and talking about how we can all work together to improve these investigations,” said Sheriff Jim Kennedy in support of the SART.
The SART also produced a brochure that will be distributed both to sexual assault victims and the general public to explain the new program. The question and answer format brochure explains topics such as “What Is Sexual Assault?” “Who Is There To Help Me?” “What Can I Expect?” and “What Should I Do If I Have Been Sexually Assaulted?”
The SART includes participation from both local hospitals, local law enforcement agencies, Middle Way House, and several organizations affiliated with Indiana University. In order to explain the new procedures, the Prosecutor’s Office has organized a free training for participating SART members on September 22, 2009. The training will review the Protocol and include a panel discussion with representatives from Bloomington Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana University Police Department, and the Indiana State Police. Continuing education credits will be available for law enforcement attending the training. Representatives from the Bloomington Hospital SANE Program, Middle Way House, and the State Police crime lab will also present information.
The SART will also promote a public education campaign aimed at preventing sexual assault among college students and encouraging reporting. “Got Consent? Ask,” reads a locally-designed poster showing a series of falling dominos. The campaign hopes to educate students about the meaning of consent, emphasizing the message “Only yes means yes!”
“Federal statistics show that women in college are more at risk to be sexually assaulted than at any other time in their lives,” says Debbie Melloan of the IU Sexual Assault Crisis Service. “Education is extremely important to cause change. Sex without consent is a crime, and there can be serious consequences.”
Dee Owens with the I.U. Alcohol and Drug Information Center agrees that education is a key prevention strategy, “A majority of these cases involve high blood-alcohol levels. No one can give consent unless conscious and aware. Students who use alcohol or other drugs to obtain sex must understand these actions are criminal and endanger their status at I.U.”
Both the Owen County and Greene County prosecutors plan to model similar SART Programs based on the Protocol developed in Monroe County. Owen County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Robert Andree says, “Most of our sexual assault victims go to Bloomington Hospital, so it makes sense that we take advantage of this new program.”
Media Reports
Please check this area for news coverage. Please feel free to use the comments area to alert this site with newsworthy links.
MSNBC investigative report on Campus Rape. This was a moving and informative piece on Campus rape by Hoda kotb. It featured 5 rape victims from Universities across the county. Daniel Carter, of Security on Campus is interviewed also. Please view by clicking on the link below.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10382613/
This link is an investigative piece from the Indiana Daily Student Newspaper (IDS). The reporter does an excellent job of shining a light on this very troubling topic. This is a three part series well worth reading. Campus rape and Sexual assault at Indiana University is on the minds of many. Please use the link contained on their website to view the two other parts of this story.
http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=46013&comview=1#comment
Mrs. Feldman Speaks at Indiana University for Take Back the Night 2008:
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/17596211/detail.html?taf=ind